Iron Chef 料理の鉄人 Ryouri no Tetsujin

[Maneki Neko]

Iron Chef 料理の鉄人 Ryouri no Tetsujin

Iron Chef is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1992, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient.

The series ended on September 24, 1999, although occasional specials were produced until 2002. The series aired 309 episodes. Repeats are regularly aired on the Cooking Channel in the United States and on Special Broadcasting Service in Australia.

The show is hosted by actor Takeshi Kaga, known on the show as Chairman Kaga. The show has two regular commentators and one or two guest commentators (who also serve as judges). The commentary covers ingredients, history of contenders, and other background information to give viewers context for what is happening in the kitchen.

Backstory
The supposed "story" behind Iron Chef is recounted at the beginning of every episode. It is said that Kaga had "realised his dream in a form never seen before" and specially constructed a cooking arena called "Kitchen Stadium" in his castle.

There, visiting chefs from "around the world" would compete against his Gourmet Academy, led by his three (later four) Iron Chefs. Chairman Kaga himself is a showpiece, dressed in outlandish examples of men's formal attire.

The English name Iron Chef comes from the show itself: Kaga would use this translation of the Japanese title when summoning his chefs at the beginning of the battle. Kaga theatrically announced the start of each battle with "Allez cuisine". This expression translates loosely from the French as "go cook."

Format

On each show, a challenger, typically a famous chef from Japan or elsewhere, is pitted against one of the Iron Chefs (with each Iron Chef specializing in a different kind of cuisine—Japanese, Chinese, French, and later Italian). Although challengers appear to choose an opponent on the spot, the matchups are determined well beforehand, as sometimes the challengers, especially those from Japan, are asked to participate because of a rivalry with one of the Iron Chefs.

International spinoffs like Iron Chef Australia and Iron Chef UK were big successes, the most notable of all being Iron Chef America, where famous chefs like Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay competed.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Chef

[Maneki Neko]

Pinanonood ko ito every Sunday sa Asian Food Channel. Kahit luma, sobrang nakakaaliw. Nakadub nga lang, pati yung mga "hmmmm" at "yum", naka dub. Nakakaaliw lang, haha. Sobrang bata pa ni Takeshi Kaga dito